Scott James MacPherson pleads guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to his sister

A violent offender who once stabbed a childhood mate seven times and lost his thumb in a prison incident has learned his fate for assaulting his sister and breaking her jaw.

Scott James Macpherson pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to his sister for breaking her jaw in an unprovoked assault.

A violent offender who once stabbed a childhood mate seven times for no reason has been given immediate parole for assaulting his sister and breaking her jaw.

Mackay District Court heard the 42 year old, who lost his thumb in a prison injury, had already spent more than a year in custody over the unprovoked attack in late 2023 at Slade Point that occurred after his sibling had asked him to move out.
Crown prosecutor Monique Sheppard said she had been concerned the cost to live at the housing property might increase as he was not meant to be there.

Mackay father of one Scott James MacPherson “lost it” and punched her in the face before standing over her as he “continued to be enraged by her request”, Ms Sheppard said.

She ran into her room and MacPherson followed and punched a hole in her bedroom door, he also damaged a screen door while leaving the property.

As a result of the single punch she suffered a broken jaw and had to go to Townsville for surgery that included plates and screws being inserted in her face.

The court heard MacPherson was a “recidivist violent offender” with a lengthy history.

Ms Sheppard said he was also jailed for seven years for stabbing a woman – his childhood friend – seven times for no reason in September 2013. He was 32 at the time.

MacPherson pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm on November 12, 2023.

Scott James Macpherson was jailed with immediate parole for assaulting his sister and breaking her jaw in an unprovoked attack after she asked him to move out.

Barrister Scott McLennan, instructed by Daniel Lane of ATSILS, said his client had a prejudicial childhood marred with anxiety, depression and behavioural issues because of his family life.

He had issues with substance abuse in his teen years, starting with inhalants and moving to meth and amphetamines.

Mr McLennan said his client had also been kicked out of home multiple times in his youth.

“In 2011 Mr MacPherson lost his left thumb in a work related incident while working in the prison joinery,” he said.

The court heard in 2013 MacPherson was assaulted and sustained a “significant closed head injury”.

While the symptoms have since resolved a medical report tendered in court stated MacPherson’s “already poor impulse control being exacerbated and his ability to self regulate being diminished as a result of that injury”.

“He didn’t mean to break his sister’s jaw, he’s very sorry that he did,” Mr McLennan said, adding his client had been “sensitive” about being evicted by family members because of his childhood.

“You cannot behave this way … if you do so, you’re just going to spend longer and longer periods in imprisonment,” Judge John Coker told MacPherson.

Judge Coker accepted MacPherson’s upbringing provided “some explanation”, but no excuse for the violent attack.

“It provides context for me in relation to why, with a lack of inhibition, you reacted in such a violent way to what … appears to be a rather innocuous statement,” he said.

“I have no doubt that you did not intent to cause serious injuries to your sister that arose.

“You are burdened with a significant criminal history and it is one that is littered and riddled with offences of violence.”

Judge Coker accepted MacPherson had spent a significant time in custody and as such jailed him for three years with immediate parole.

Convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Scott James MacPherson pleads guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to his sister